IJN Performs First Complex Cardiac Surgery On Premature Infant

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- The National Heart Institute (IJN) accomplished another milestone in cardiac surgery when it successfully performed the complex procedure on a premature infant on April 5.
Datuk Dr Azhari Yakub, who led the team of cardiothoracic surgeons, performed the surgery on Ong Yee Ling, who was born premature at 34 weeks via caesarean section at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) on Feb 3. She was referred to IJN on Feb 14.
"Yee Ling was diagnosed to have type A interrupted arch with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), and underwent surgery to repair the interrupted arch and closure of VSD on April 5 and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with stable haemodynamics and is being treated for lung infection," he told a news conference here today.
"The success of this surgery means a lot to us and IJN, especially because it's quite a hard task to do surgery on a very small baby and that is the challenge," he said.
Dr Azhari said that during the 66-minute surgery, doctor had to cool down the patient with very low temperature of about 16 degrees and stop the blood circulation to the whole body, including the brain, for about 14 minutes.
"Within that time, the doctors managed to join up the lower and upper parts of the atria," he said, adding that the success showed that IJN had the capacity to deal with similar cases in future.
Meanwhile, Yee Ling's mother, Yap Soh Theng, 25, told reporters that five days after Yee Ling, her first child, was born she was informed that she had a hole in the heart.
Doctors at KLH referred Yee Ling to IJN and she was admitted on March 19 for surgery.
"Initially, I was afraid when I learnt of my baby's condition, especially when she was born premature," she said.
"I'm now relieved and happy with my baby's condition and I thank all the doctors who treated her." said Yap who had to quit her job as a clerk with a private company here to look after Yee Ling.
"The doctors said that Yee Ling can be discharged in a week or two depending on her condition," she added.